Clutch plate



May 26, 1942. s. GOODWIN CLUTCH PLATE Filed Feb 7. 1938 1|Jllllllllllllllll'/l Patented May 26, 1942 irs STATES r ortica 'Y 5Claims.

rIhis invention has to do with clutch plates, and is particularlyconcerned with clutch plates of the spring center type, in which thevouter portion of the plate is rotatable with respect to theV innerportion through a small arc determined by stops against yieldingresistance offered by springs. Y

The object of the present invention is to providean improved clutchplate of this type which is strong, simple, durable and quiteinexpensive to manufacture. The new plate is characterized by novellyconstructed stops which act to limit the relative movement of the Vouterand inner portions of the plate to a small arc.

While the foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of thenature of theinvention, other more specic objects and advantages will beevident to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of theconstruction, arrangement and operation` of the parts which have beenYcomf bined to produce the new clutch plate.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is presented herein for thepurpose of exemplifies.-V tion, but it will of course be appreciatedthat the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other structurallymodified forms .coming equally within the scope of the appended claims-pIn the accompanying drawing:

Figi is a face View of the improved plate, with certain of the partsbroken away to reveal the inside construction;

lFig. 2 is a section through the plate, taken on the irregular line2-20f Figi;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary edgeview of the plate; and

Fig. 4 is a face view of the hub, illustrating the Y spring slots in theflange of the hub and the stop flange II, a centrally apertured frictiondisk I2` which is undulated adjacent its periphery and equipped withsuitable facings I3, a centrally apertured side plate I4, and aplurality of Vcoil springs I5. y

The hub I0 is interiorly splined for non-rotatable engagement with acorrespondingly splined shaft on which it is adapted to be mounted.

The flange II on the hub is characterized by a.

relatively thick inner portion I6 and a relatively thin outer portionI'I. The thin outer portion II of the flange yis provided withcircumferentially lspaced spring slots i8, and is also provided with fradially projecting stop lugs I9 between certain of the spring slots.

The friction disk I2 and flange II in closely fitting engagement withthe thick inner'portion I6 of the flange. v The outer` and securedrigidly to the friction disk I2 by means of rivets 22.

The friction disk I2 is provided with circumferentially spaced springpockets 23 which face the slots I3 in the flange II of the hub. Thesepockets are preferably formed in the friction disk by shearing the metalof the latter radiallyvat the .ends ofthe pockets and bulging or drawingtheintervening metal out into substantiallyV semi-cylindrical form. Thisconstruction results in straight cord-like edges 24 at the endsY of thepockets for engagement with the at ends of the springs I5, andintermediate side walls 25 for engagement with the sides of the springs.Since the metal which is pressed outwardly to "form the spring housingsis not cut free from thev body of the plate anywhere except at the'ends, but is rather drawn or stretched in one direction to form thepockets, rigidity of structure is obtained, even with small gauge stock.

A The side plate I4 is provided Vwith a corresponding set of similarlyconstructedl spring pockets 26 which likewise face the s1otsfI8 in theange I I of the hub- VThe springs I5 are positioned in the slots I8inthe flange of the hub and inthe complementary'pockets V23 and 26 inthe friction ,disk and side plate, where they serve to yieldingly resistrotational movement of the friction disk and iside plate relative tothefhub, in a manner well known in the art. As will be observed in thedrawing, the cupped portion 20 of the side plate I 4 confines thesprings I5 in such manner as to prevent any outward movement of thelatter, the arcuate shape of the cupped portion 29 at the outer side ofeach spring resulting in an integrally formedsheet metal retainer for veach spring which conforms to the arcuate path u of movement of eitherend of each spring.

`At thelocations of the stop lugs I'9 on the nange II of the hub, thecupped portion 20 of the side plate is cut away to provide openings 21for the accommodation of the lugs. These openings 2'I` are made quite abit wider than the lugs I9, measured circumferentially of the unit, withthe lugs centered in the openings when the pookthe side plate I4 aremounted on the hub I0 at opposite sides of the.

ets 23 and 2liVlr are in exactV register Withthe4 slots I8. By reason ofthis construction, theV friction disk I2 andthe side plate 4 are enabledtorotate a limited distance ineither direction rela-` tive to the flangel l on the hub against the'yielding resistance offered by the springsl5, the lugs I9 bringing up against the 'ends 28 of the open-V ings 2]to limit such'rotational movement.

I claim:

1. A spring center clutch plate characterizedv by a hub'having a radialflange provided with circumferentially spaced spring slots and radiallyprojectingstop lugs between certain vof the slots,

a centrally apertured friction diskV provided with:

circumferentially spaced spring pockets, clutch facings on the outerportion of the friction disk,v

centrally apertured sheet metal side plate rotatably mountedon the hubat the other side of the flange, a connection between the outer portionof the side plateand the friction disk, and helicalV coil springsseatedinthe slots in the flange of the hub, said frictionv disk and side platebeing slitted along lines in register with the ends of the springs andbeing pressed sidewise in opposite Y directions to provide radiallycontinuous opena centrallyl apertured sidey plate provided with Y*circumferentiallyV spaced spring pockets; said friction disk and Ysideplate being rotatably mounted on the hub against opposite sides of theflange and rigidly secured togetheroutwardly of the flange, and saidside platejbeing cuppedjabout the outer edgeof the angeand providedinthe fcupped portion thereof iwith 'radially disposed i stopf 'o`peningsinto whichV the stop lugsjon the Piange project, for limiting, `therotary movement of the friction disk and side, plategneitiier direction,and .coil springsjseated in 'th e;slots' in thejrlge and inthe pocketsthe. friction and side plate .for yieldingly resisting the rotaryymovement.

2. A spring center clutch plate characterized by a'hub having a Aradial`flange'provided with circumferentially spaced'- spring slots andradially projecting stop Ylugs'between certain ofthe' Y to and supportthe 'sides slots,.a centrally apeiitured Lfrictiondisk provided withcireuinferentially spaced spring` slots, friction means Von the outerportionfof the .friction l y the spring pockets.-

disk, a centrally aperturedside plateprovided` with 'circumferentiallyspaced spring' slots, said friction disk and s ide plate beingjrotatably mounted on Ythe hub against oppositesides ofthe flangeandrig'idly'secured together outwardly of the flange, and one of` thesamebeing cupped about the outeixedgeof the flangegandj provided allycushioned 'difive,

ended side pockets of Vuninterrupted arcuate cross section which conformto and support the sides of the springs with the ends of the springsexposed through the open ends of the pockets in abutment with the edgesof the slits.

- 4. A spring center. clutch plate characterized Vvbyva hub having aradial 'flange provided with circumferentially spaced spring slots, acentrally apertured vsheet metal friction disk, friction meansontheouterportion of the disk, a centrally apertured sheet metal sideplate, 4said friction; disk and side plate, being rotatably mounted -onthe hub at oppositesides of the flange with one of said memberscuppedabout the outer V'periphery of 'the' flange into fixed engagementa I v Athe ieiiiber is mi iitiiiz sectionsofxthe cuppedportion as o uterwalls for f 5. In a clutch plate incorporating a torsiona hub memberhavinga lflange, asheet metalplate. member, a torsion cushion betweenthe plate memberand the flange,

inthe cuppedportionthereof witlji radially disposedstop openingsintojwhich the stop lugs on Vtliefiange project, forglimiting therotarymovement of thefrictiondisk andsaidplate ineither direction, and coil.springs seated in the slotsY in foY Vthe flange, frictiondisk and sideplateY for yieldingly .resisting the rotary movement.

3, A Y spring center clutchz'plate characterized by ahub havingaradialiiange provided with jireumferentially spaced vspring slotsjacentrally aperturedfsheet metal friction' diskA rotatably mountedon the.hub at one side. of the flange,

friction xneanson'v the outer portion of the disk, a

andinte'gral projections on the fwfiange extending in the vplanefof thelatter intoslots in .the sheet 'metal' Vplate"ni'e`1'nherforlimitingirotary movement oftheplatememberrelative tothe hub` member, said slots .being Ycut transversely in the sheet metal plate memberin -anannular portion ofthe latter in which the metalis' disposed at asubstantial angle tosaid projections, and said projectibnshavingradiallydisposed edgeswhich engage squarely with t lie` A edgesofthe slots at right angles to the adjoining vtangeritiallv .ex-Vtending surfaces ot the kslotted annular Yportion of the plate member'.yGEORGE I, GOODWIN.

t t y I cupped member being so Vconstruct-,ed and arrangedwithrfesjp'ect to the circular cupped portion yof

